Antimicrobial efficacy of metapex (calcium hydroxide with iodoform formulation) at different concentrations against selected microorganisms--an in vitro study.

The objective of this study was to assess, in vitro, the effectiveness of several concentrations of Metapex (0.22 gm/ml, 0.022 gm/ml, 0.0022 gm/ml) in the elimination of selected microorganisms. Different concentrations of Metapex were prepared by dissolving it in ethanol (99.9%) Pre-sterilized Whatman paper discs, 6 mm in diameter and soaked with the test solution, were prepared and placed onto the previously seeded agar Petri plates. Plates were incubated aerobically for Enterococcus faecalis (E. Faecalis) and Candida albicans (C. albicans), anaerobically for Bacteroid fragilis (B. fragilis) and Propionibacterium acne respectivally. A zone of inhibition was recorded for each plate and the results were analysed statistically. There was significant reduction in the size of zone of inhibition against P. acne, as the concentration of metapex decreases. At lower concentrations of metapex there was no zone of inhibition observed against E. Faecalis, C. Albicans and B. Fragilis. The result of this study suggested that Metapex is a potent antimicrobial agent at higher concentration.